SBU counterintelligence detained a Russian military intelligence agent who, under the guise of a taxi driver, was spying on civilian and military targets in the Kherson region.
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The detainee is a 55-year-old local resident. The SBU press center reported this today, April 16.
To collect intelligence, the Russian agent posed as a taxi driver and drove around the city in his own car, in which he installed a hidden video recorder, the report says.
It is noted that the attacker:
- first of all, he monitored the locations of the greatest concentration of personnel and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as the location of fortifications;
- tried to obtain the “necessary” information by starting confidential conversations with his passengers. Moreover, sometimes even Ukrainian military personnel used his services;
- he transmitted the information received via messenger to the invaders to prepare targeted strikes on the city using artillery and kamikaze drones.
However, SBU officers exposed the aggressor’s plans in advance and thwarted their implementation. At the same time, we took comprehensive measures to ensure the safety of the Ukrainian military and officials of the front-line military forces, the SBU notes.
It is noted that the Russian agent was exposed at the initial stage of his intelligence activity. After this, his every move was documented step by step and detained while he was carrying out a hostile mission.
During the investigation, the SBU also learned about the defendant’s involvement in attempts to assassinate the head of the Kherson police department.
It was established that it was precisely based on the agent’s coordinates and tips that the invaders tried to hit the official’s car with a Russian FPV drone. The drone was equipped with a shot at an RPG-7 hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher, which was supposed to blow up the vehicle in which the official was located, the SBU notes. “However, thanks to the SBU and Ukrainian defenders, the drone was neutralized.
According to the investigation, the detainee worked remotely for the Russian intelligence service through an acquaintance, a former local resident, who fled to Russia after the full-scale invasion and began working for Russian military intelligence. His identity has already been established.
Based on the collected evidence, Security Service investigators informed the detainee of suspicion under Part 2 of Art. 111 of the Criminal Code (high treason committed under martial law).
He is currently in custody. The attacker faces life imprisonment. Comprehensive measures are ongoing to bring his accomplice hiding in Russia to justice, the SBU notes.
Source: Racurs
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